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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority :
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (November 27) obtained two orders in the District Court for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $1 million against two employers. Meanwhile, the MPFA pursued eight claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $210,000 on behalf of 20 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
The District Court today issued judgments against Power Way Engineering Limited and Wah Tai Farm Company Limited. The defendants were ordered to pay the MPFA $883,785.71 and $134,325.97, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to 26 and 37 employees of the defendants respectively.
At the tribunal's hearing, the three defendants, Cheng Kwok Cheung trading as Jetone Engineering Company, Hui Kwong On trading as Nam Wah Tung Kong Restaurant and Hin Sum Manpower Company Limited, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $46,200, $36,486.45 and $11,351.30, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other five defendants, Borneo International Education Services Limited, Leung Chi Shing formerly trading as Sun Wong Restaurant, Siu Wai Tack formerly trading as Tak Po Restaurant, Sun Wong Restaurant Limited and Chelsea Apparel Manufacturing Company Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $45,076.06, $44,047.50, $12,868.80, $10,952.50 and $4,725, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The Adjudicator also ordered Hui Kwong On trading as Nam Wah Tung Kong Restaurant to pay the MPFA $5,000 being financial penalty imposed by the MPFA for failure to make MPF contributions for his employees.
The amounts both awarded at the District Court and the tribunal will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The District Court further ordered the defendants to pay costs of $930 and the tribunal ordered the respective defendants to pay respective costs of $230, $150, $90, $166, $210, $130, $70 and $136.
Hin Sum Manpower Company Limited had previously been fined a total of $84,500 on 30 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time.
Ends/Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:10
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